Introducing Second Language Acquisition Perspectives and Practices [Hardcover]

Introducing Second Language Acquisition: Perspectives and Practices represents a clear and concise introduction to the main concepts, issues, and debates in second language acquisition studies aimed specifically at undergraduates encountering the topic for the first time.

• Follows six fictitious language learners throughout the text whose stories serve to introduce various concepts and issues
• Contains specific chapters on first language acquisition and bilingualism, as well as explicit references to the most recent and important research
• Covers key topics including acquisition contexts, theoretical perspectives, language teaching methods, second language development, and individual differences (such as age, aptitude, and motivation)
• Grabs student attention with lighthearted cartoons that illustrate and reinforce key ideas
• Features a full range of pedagogical tools to aid student learning, including “language learning in practice” textboxes; bolded new terms defined in the margins; an end-of-book glossary; self-assessment and classroom discussion questions; exercise and project ideas; and further online viewing sections

1 Introduction 1

2 First Language Acquisition 5

2.0 Chapter overview 6

2.1 From sound to word 6

2.2 From word to sentence 10

2.3 Theoretical views 13

2.4 First language vs second language acquisition 18

2.5 Summing up 25

Key concepts 26

Self-assessment questions 26

Discussion questions 27

Exercises/Project ideas 28

Further reading and viewing 30

References 31